Barack Obama Reacts to Photobombing a Family's Photo Shoot With Kids

Former President Barack Obama accidentally photobombed a family's photo shoot when he walked by kids posing by the cherry blossom trees and Tidal Basin in Washington D.C.

By Corinne Heller Apr 03, 2025 6:26 PM
| Updated Apr 04, 2025 1:24 AM
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Watch: Barack Obama Reacts to Photobombing a Family's Photo Shoot With Kids

This family won't soon forget this presidential cameo.

As former President Barack Obama set off on a morning stroll among the cherry blossom trees on the bank of the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C., he happened to walk by Portia Moore kids Preston, 4, and Belle, 20 months, as they posed for a photo shoot. The Virginia mom didn't notice Obama at the time, revealing it was her husband Damien Thomas who pointed the former president out after they were finished.

"It’s the kids turn to take a photo together and Damien is saying something to me," Moore wrote on her Instagram April. 1, alongside pics of the photobombing moment. "I’m just focused on Preston not running towards the water (peak mom moment)."

The 40-year-old continued, "After that shoot was done I pick Preston up and asked Damien, 'What were you saying'? He goes, 'That was President Obama who just walked by' and looks his direction. I was like whaaaaat?!"

Moore said she ran to photographer Briana Inell and asked her if she got the picture. "She scrolls through and BOOM there is it!" she wrote. "The perfect shot!"

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And as the photo quickly went viral, it ultimately drew the attention of the surprise guest of honor.

"Preston and Belle, I hope you enjoyed peak bloom!" Obama wrote on his Instagram Stories, resharing Moore's photo of him with her kids. "My bad for stepping into the shot."

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Netflix

The Democratic leader—who had worn a white button-down shirt, gray pants, gray baseball cap and sunglasses on his stroll—had also recently posted two pics showing other people walking near the trees alongside the basin.

As for what he was up to in DC that day? "It's fun to be able to play tourist once in a while," Obama wrote on Instagram March 31. "The cherry blossoms were beautiful this morning!"

Moore wrote in her post that a picture of her kids with the former president is now a "family heirloom" and that it will go on her family’s Christmas card? "Oh, my goodness," she told NBC 4 Washington in an April 1 interview. "One hundred percent."

Look back at the best celebrity photobombs of all time...

(E! and NBC 4 Washington are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Timothée Chalamet and Margot Robbie

Call him by his name: Oscars photobomb expert!

Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong'o

Wakanda forever, photobombs whenever when these Black Panther co-stars hit the red carpet together.

Chris Hemsworth

"Hey guys get out of my shot," the Thor star captioned this casual pic in 2017.

Gigi Hadid and Yolanda Hadid

Classic mom move. 

Jimmy Fallon, Christina Hendricks, Retta and Mae Whitman

The late night host was a bad boy when he crashed the Good Girls stars' photo opp at the 2018 Peoples Choice Awards.

Kelleth Cuthbert aka Fiji Girl

LOL, remember her? Stay thirsty!

Tom Hanks

When the beloved actor went for a run in Central Park, he didn't intend to crash a couple's wedding photos. But he did just that in 2016.

And wedding photographer Meg Miller of Meg Miller Photography captured the spontaneous moment on camera. She posted snaps to her Instagram, captioning, "Yesterday's wedding was so beautiful! Elisabeth and Ryan, you planned one amazing celebration. The icing on the cake was @tomhanks stopping in Central Park to wish them congratulations."

Hugh Jackman

Australian TV reporter Jessica Turner learned anything can happen when you're live after The Greatest Showman star ran up behind her during a broadcast and shouted "photobomb!" over her shoulder as he passed.

Turner handled the surprise like a pro, responding, "The best kind of photobomb, Hugh!"

KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse

"No one is safe," Apa jokes on Instagram after sneaking up on his Riverdale co-stars at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards.

Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone

The Hunger Games star photobombed her pal on the red carpet at the 2017 Governors Awards.

Derek Hough

The Dancing With the Stars pro photobombed his sister Julianne Hough and her husband Brooks Laich at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys, the couple's first red carpet debut as a couple.

Amy Schumer

In June 2017, the actress and comedienne made a surprise appearance during couple Jasmin Pereira and Jon Bates's wedding photo shoot in London.

Oprah Winfrey and Kerry Washington

"Best photobomb of my life," the Scandal star wrote on Instagram. "#supersoulsessions #supersoulsisters @oprah @drshefalitsabary." 

Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello and Eric Stonestreet

The Modern Family actor photobombed his co-star and her husband at the 2016 SAG Awards.

Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen delivered quite the unexpected surprise at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow back in 2014 when she cheekily photobombed a selfie being taken by two members of the Australia Commonwealth Games women's hockey team, Jayde Taylor and Brooke Peris.

"Aaaahhh the Queen photo-bombed our selfie," Jayde captioned the photo on Instagram.

Jared Leto and Diane Kruger

The actor was quite the joker at LACMA's 2015 Art+Film Gala.

Beyoncé & Jay Z

While Queen Bee and her husband were working the crowd at the 2015 Met Gala, this guy in the background was busy working a slice of delicious pizza.

Kevin Hart and Alyssa Milano

Hart is usually the one pulling the pranks, but looks like the Charmed alum was able to pull a fast one on the Get Hard actor at his Hollywood premiere.

Jimmy Fallon, Chris Pratt and Chris Evans

The fellas had some fun photobombing unsuspecting football fans on NBC's Super Bowl XLIX red carpet.

Nicole Scherzinger

"Ahhh so cool and inspiring to meet #TimBurton tonight at my show @CatsMusical #Cats #LondonPalladium," the singer wrote on Instagram. "Even cooler being #photobombed by the #HelenaBonhamCarter !!!!!"

Usher and Kim Kardashian

LOL! Usher snuck into KKW's red carpet photo at the 2014 MTV VMAs.

Zoe Saldana

The pregnant star and her hubby get photobombed by a tattooed prankster in L.A.!

Cloris Leachman

Ooops! While posing for red carpet pics, Julianna Margulies gets a surprise from a fellow actress. 

Tom Hardy

While filming The Dark Knight Rises in Pittsburgh in 2011, the British star made a surprise (and rather menacing) appearance at a couple's nearby wedding shoot, featuring a group of lovely bridesmaids. "You have my permission to kiss the bride."

Kris Jenner

The victim: Kim Kardashian at Tao Nightclub at The Venetian Las Vegas to celebrate her 33rd birthday.

Cara Delevingne

The model creeped up on Sienna Miller at the Costume Institute Gala for the 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Simon Pegg

Pegg pranked co-stars Paula Patton, Tom Cruise and Léa Seydoux at the Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol premiere in London.

Adam Lambert

The singer snuck into fans' selfie during the 19th Annual Miami Make-A-Wish Ball at the InterContinental Hotel in Miami, Fla.

Jennifer Lawrence

The victims: Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Nina Jacobson and Jena Malone, attending a special screening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in New York City.

Christina Applegate

The victim: Leslie Mann, attending the premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues in London.

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